Pedicab drivers could sue city govt: Lawyer

JAKARTA (JP): Pedicab drivers have sufficient legal grounds to take the Jakarta administration to court over the latter's about- face on permitting their vehicles to operate in the capital, a lawyer from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute has said.

They could sue Governor Sutiyoso for causing them financial losses through his on-again, off-again decision, Dewi Novirianti said Monday.

"The governor's inconsistency has obviously caused financial losses to the drivers because they had to spend quite a large amount of money to finance their trips from other cities to the capital and their daily survival here," she said.

"After all, all they got from the governor's decision was nothing but disappointment."

Sutiyoso announced last month he would allow the pedicabs (becak) to operate again after a 10-year ban in what he said was a move intended to help the poor get jobs during the crisis.

But he backtracked on his decision just six days later because he argued the influx of drivers was causing traffic jams by operating on major thoroughfares.

Dewi's statement was made in line with the announcement of results of a recent poll conducted by a non-governmental organization, Urban Poor Consortium.

UPC coordinator Wardah Hafidz said 86 percent of 1,000 respondents supported the decision for pedicabs to operate again, especially on nonprotocol roads and around residential complexes or market areas.

They supported the reoperation because it was a cheap transportation means (50.8 percent) and could help the drivers to survive the crisis (47.9 percent), Wardah said.

Just over a third of respondents -- 33.9 percent -- endorsed the pedicabs because they considered them a nonpolluting form of transportation.

Respondents against the return of pedicabs to the city's five mayoralties said they would exacerbate traffic problems (75 respondents) because drivers were difficult to supervise (63 respondents).

About 125 pedicab drivers from North Jakarta met city councilors Monday, seeking their support in persuading the governor to let them operate on streets around traditional markets and residential areas.

Separately, political observer Ryaas Rasyid backed the city administration's decision to abide by the city ordinance.

Sutiyoso's policy flip-flop was symptomatic of politicians who gained their positions under the former regime of president Soeharto, he said Sunday.

"They are afraid of being regarded as nonreformists and try to change their image. They just want to show that they have changed. Sutiyoso is trying to create an image that he takes the side of the poor."

He rejected recommendations from some that pedicab drivers should push for Sutiyoso's resignation.

"It's too much to demand Sutiyoso step down just because of this kind of problem. An apology is enough," he said.

Ryaas also believed the pedicab issue could not be solved simply by gathering a public opinion poll.

He said the fundamental problem was the capital's traffic management and system.

"Since the beginning, Jakarta's concept of traffic is already disorganized. The infrastructure is discriminative toward nonengine vehicles and pedestrians since they only provide slow and fast lanes for engined vehicles."

Allowing pedicab drivers back on the street would just add to the city's traffic headaches, he added.

"I object to the pedicab drivers' demand to ply Jakarta's alleys and small streets because the streets are already served by engined vehicles. It will only stir up another conflict of interest among the drivers." (ind/cst)